Concussion and Eye Involvement

Most are familiar with the pass that literally sidelined sports reporter Pam Oliver. According to the New York Daily News, the last thing she remembered was doing an interview with Ed Hochuli and then returning to the sidelines.

“That’s all I remember,” she said. “I asked the people around me, ‘What happened?’ They told me I just got hit in the head with a football.”
After the initial shock, her brave nature led her to continue to work as if nothing happened. The next day was a different story, however. Oliver hid out in her house for the next five days, avoiding light and struggling with a splitting headache.

“I slept for hours on end. The minute you wake up you’re reminded. Your head is pounding,” she said. “I really could not take light — the light from the TV, the accent lighting. The sun was completely my enemy. My blinds were drawn. It was miserable.”

Oliver’s experience shows that the signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle at first. Because of this, some people tend to downplay their injury. A concussion may not be as visible as a bleeding gash, but should still be investigated as every injury is different.

Most individuals who suffer from a concussion report symptoms related to eye function such as light sensitivity (as Ms. Oliver experienced), blurry vision, double vision, eye fatigue, and/or difficulty reading. These symptoms underscore the importance of conducting a thorough eye exam following a head injury.